Philemon 1 ~ Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people

 

Police looked at early art of Paul and 

drew this of Paul's face. I do think early Christian art

supports a look at the face of Paul!

Philemon 1

1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker— 2 also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier—and to the church that meets in your home:

3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.


4 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers,
5 because
I hear about your love for all his holy people
and your faith in the Lord Jesus.

6 I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective
in deepening your understanding
of every good thing we share
for the sake of Christ.

7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.

8 Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 9 yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love.

It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus— 10 that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains.

11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

12 I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. 13 I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel.

14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary.

15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— 16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.

17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self.

20 I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.

21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

22 And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers. 23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. 24 And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.

25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Friends, in difficult times:

We have only one decision to make when we are faced with:

~ job loss

~ tragic accident or fatal accident

~ illness - the highest probability of bankruptcy

~ injustice

~ racism

~ crime

~ power struggles and attitudes used as weapons

~ families that do not care for one another

~ domestic violence

~ sexual violence

~ physical illness

~ labeling - false or true

~ aging

~ isolation caused by divorce, illness, distance for jobs, children growing up, widowhood









What Decision?

Is God Good?

Why this Question? Because even to decide there is no God - based up things like the variations of water used to create life on the planet. The intricacy of DNA. The inability to create dirt. No ability to create a seed for any substance. The inability to reproduce ourselves without using what God has given us. The solar system, creating gravity. The beauty of the world. Love.

This is a crucial question - is God good?

Job fought this. Humility found the answer. Humility can be a tool used of cruelty. So, what is the answer. Love.

When we are Loved  - we are filled by something we can hardly define. We recover. We Hope. We have the ability to rise again.

Critical

I was talking to a Pastor who said he is called into the hospitals to help strangers. Dying is hard. Generally not for believers. Usually a believer comforts the ones the believer loves. And passes on to Jesus. Why talk about death when we are talking about finding Joy in Life. Because at this critical time - we find what matters. There is no greater revealing, than at critical.

Romans 8:28

We know that in all things

God works for the good

of those who love him,

who have been called

according to His purpose.

If we believe God is Good - we have the power of His Grace to rise again.

If we believe God is Good - we can Love.

If we believe God is Good - in this faith - we are nourished. Able to fill others. Filling up ourselves.

If we believe God is Good - we can take failings of life and trust God for better days.

If we believe God is Good - in this impossibility - we are able to read the Word of God applying to us. To our core.

If we believe God is Good - we are moved beyond our comfort zone. Creating failure. Jesus declares this to be true. Creating courage. Creating Life. Creating a funny path we never saw - giving us meaning. Making our obscure quirks part of life. Making life a beautiful work of stained glass - from the bits and pieces. Creating quilts. Creating paintings. Creating space to trust and love. Overcoming. And in the Body of Christ taking chances - we find we are part of a culture coming out behind the walls of the Middle Ages. Learning to read and see the Word of God. Defeating disease - creating hospitals. Feeding the starving - creating a culture of farmers to feed one another. Defeating slavery - of debts - creating a place where families can have hope.




Because we believe God saw His creation as good.

Because we believe God sees inside all of us and finds us worthy of His Love. To save the world.

To believe well enough that it is not, "all about me." Blessing all of us. Making our lives, our families, our homes, our jobs, our neighborhoods, our risks, our failures, our joy - making the blessing cover us all. Because we hold Christ in our essence. Christ in our being. Jesus is our hope. Jesus is Love. Jesus Loves. Jesus Lives.

Because God is GOD.

We believe in Mercy.

And in the Love - we are all blessed.

Colossians 4:3

As you pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word,

so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ

Abba, Father,

You, Our Father, has loved us so much that we are called children of God. 

And we really are His Children!

John, Your Beloved Disciple calls You, "God of Love." 

Paul calls You, "God of encouragement!"

We pray rightly over Christmas! For us all!

Please You Bless us and Keep us,
Make Your Face Joyfully Shine upon us,
Be Gracious to us!

May we Lift up Your Face to Smile upon us!
Cover us in Your Peace, the Very Peace of You, Our God, Knowing Your
Willing Plan for a Hope and Future!

To place the Name of Jesus in our souls. Jesus before us,
Jesus behind us, Jesus Living Water pouring and flowing surround us and those we Love. Help us to Seek You First. Dwell with us.

Help us to have more Heaven upon earth.

The Blessing of Jesus upon us. 

For all the Times You've 

Helped Thank You!

Alleluia and Amen in Jesus Christ!

We put our Hope of Blessing upon Jesus

Amen  

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yay Jesus